Apparatus And Method For Measuring Water Quality In A Water Distribution System

ABSTRACT

A system for monitoring water quality in a water meter data collection system having a plurality ol metering end points (E) for measuring consumption includes a plurality of chemical biological and environmental sensors (S 1,  S 2 ) disposed in a distribution system near or within the distribution end points (A, B), with the sensors (S 1,  S 2 ) generating electrical signals through a network (G) that can be processed and communicated with the water meter data to a collection station (D) from the metering end points (E).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/891,963, filed Sep. 28, 2010 which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/439,258, filed Feb. 27, 2009, which was a 371 ofPCT/US08/070052, filed Jul. 15, 2008 which claims the benefit ofpriority based on U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 60/959,833, filed Jul. 17,2007, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of the invention is meter data collection systems for meteringconsumption of water supplied, to single-unit residential, multi-unitresidential, commercial and industrial customers from a municipal ordistrict utility provider. The invention also relates to instruments forsensing water quality in such a meter data collection system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current methods and practices for sensing water quality throughbiological and chemical parameters, as well as environmental parameterssuch as residual chlorine, TOC (total organic carbon), turbidity,pressure, and others, involve systems with expensive sensors located atspecial stations within a water system. Many systems currently availableon the market to test for environmental parameters require a wastestream, sometimes toxic, as a byproduct of the testing. This methodologycannot be used at the end points of a utility distribution network.Also, the systems provided today provide sensing of severalenvironmental parameters at one time. These systems are installed atsource water, underground tanks and elevated tank locations. It has notbeen economically or environmentally practical to install these systemsat end point locations in a water metering system.

However, end point locations in a water metering system have beenidentified as a potential source point for the introduction ofcontaminants into a water distribution network. If this were to occur,it is probable the current technologies and equipment would not detectthe contamination event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for the sensing of various biologicaland chemical contaminants and environmental parameters at the end pointsof a water utility metering network.

In the system of the invention, at least one sensor is associated witheach end point (meter) in a water metering system to measure a differentbiological, chemical or environmental parameter within the specifiedregion of the water distribution network. While more than one sensormight be utilized at a particular water meter, it is an objective of theinvention to reduce the high cost of the various sensors that arenecessary by distributing them among the end points in a zone of a waterdistribution system. Sensors can also be located at zone meters tomonitor a specific parameter for a zone of the water distributionsystem, with different sensors being distributed to different zones.

A water utility distribution system can be protected from a wide arrayof potential biological and chemical contaminants and environmentalparameters and can be economically deployed using the present invention,as there is only one parameter sensed per meter, It also provides earlyautomatic detection of potential contamination events.

The invention can be used to provide a first indication of contaminationfrom which further field or lab testing can be performed to confirmanomalous conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, besides those discussedabove, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from thedescription of the preferred embodiments which follows. In thedescription, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forma part hereof, and which illustrate examples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of a water utility distribution and watermetering system incorporating the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus at a single metering endpoint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a subsection of a water utility distribution system,where “A” designates individual single-unit end points within thedistribution system, “B” designates individual commercial, industrial ormultiunit end points within the distribution system, “C” designates zonewater meters that measure the quantity or quality of water distil bittedto one zone or section of the distribution system. “D” designates theutility main office computer system. “E” designates the end point metersthat measure the quantity or quality of water distributed to a singleResidential, commercial or industrial end point. “F” designates a waterstorage facility (tanks or vaults) au water used within the distributionsystem. And, “G” designates a wireless network such as SMS, GPRS, GSM,private radio network, PSTN, or wireless Internet.

Currently, water utilities must report several parameters to agovernmental environmental protection agency on a quarterly basis. Theseparameters include chlorine residual, TOC (total organic carbon),dissolved oxygen, etc. To accomplish this reporting, utilities typicallytake water samples from various locations throughout the distributionsystem and send these samples to a laboratory for analysis of parametrictesting. An alternate method is the installation of expensive computercontrolled systems that automatically take samples from each locationand provide parametric analysis.

While these systems provide more data on a more frequent basis, theyhave a waste stream that requires maintenance and special handling. Asthey are expensive, most utilities are limited to installations atsource water locations or storage facilities, and the equipment is notdistributed throughout the distribution system.

In the present invention, individual sensors monitor respectiveparameters and are co-located with a meter, as illustrated by C or E inthe illustration. Meters, illustrated as the element E, typicallymeasure quantity of water consumed at a single end point within thedistribution system. These meters can also be assembled with, orconnected to, one or more sensors to measure the quality of watersupplied to the single end point. It is often advantageous to takereadings from several places in the distribution system due to differentconcentrations of substances due to dilution. Likewise, zone meters,illustrated as the element C, typically measure quantity of waterconsumed with a specific zone, or section, of the distribution system.When fitted with one or more sensors, these meters could provide waterquality readings for an entire zone, or section. Also a set of sensorsfor measuring or detecting respective chemical, biological andenvironmental parameters can be arranged to measure different parameterswithin a zone of the distribution system, thus providing coverage formany parameters.

Consumption and water quality data can be transmitted wirelessly to ascollection station, such as a utility computer, D, over a wirelessnetwork, G, such as SMS, GPRS, GSM, private radio network, PSTN, orwireless Internet. Water quality reporting to the EPA could then becompleted on a real-time basis, instead of on a quarterly or semiannually.

FIG. 2 illustrates the components of a single distribution end pointapparatus E at customer locations, A and B. As shown there, a meter 10is connected in a pipe supplying water to the customer equipment atsites A, B. The parameter sensor can be a sensor S1 mounted in or on thepipeline near the meter 10, or it can be sensor S2 integrated into theymeter 10. The meter 10 communicates with a communication interfacecircuit 12 through a transducer 11 which may convert movements of amagnet to electrical signals. It also feasible to use electronic meterswhich produce an electrical signal directly to the circuit 12. Thesensors S1 and S2 also communicate electrical sensing signals to thecommunication interface circuit 12. This circuit 12 converts deviceinput signals to data and in this embodiment, modulates a carrier wavewith information signals representing the data, so that a radio signalcan be transmitted over a wireless network through an antenna 13. It isalso possible for the communication interface, circuit to transmit datasignals through a communication port 13 to an external modulator/antennaunit. In either situation, radio signals encoded with metering data,including sensor data, are transmitted back to the collection station Dincluding the utility computer seen in FIG. 1.

The electronic circuitry 12 within the end point (meter) can in someembodiments poll the microsensor 52 that resides within the meter 10 inthe flow stream. When the electronic circuitry detects an anomalouscondition from the sensor, a tamper flag is set and an alarm transactionis transmitted to the collections station D via the communicationinterface circuit 12. Upon notification of the anomalous condition,utility personnel will know which potential contaminant has beendetected because of the identification number of the end point thattransmits the alarm transaction. The water utility can then go to thesource for further field testing to validate the contamination event.

Other sensors fitted into meters can be for first level detection ofvarious bio-toxins, chemical toxins or other hazardous substances. Thisfirst level detection could greatly improve the response time and publicnotification of hazardous events.

The system components at each meter C and E can be further described asfollows.

Microelectronic sensors S1 and S2 are located at an end point (meter)within the flow stream of a water utility distribution system. Aparameter sensor detects the presence or threshold of a singlerespective biological, chemical or environmental parameter (e.g., TOC ordissolved oxygen). Each sensor with a zone detects a differentrespective biological, chemical or environmental parameter. As thesensor is located in the supply flow stream, the system does not have awaste stream.

The flow meter 10 is located at the lowest point in the distributionsystem where the utility would like to measure the quantity of water.Also, the meter 10 may be the lowest point within the distributionsystem where the utility desires to measure the quality of water. Inthis case, the parameter sensors S1, S2 would be located near or insidethe meter 10. In cases where water quantity arid quality are importantat that location the meter would measure the amount of water to passthrough it and house the parameter sensor to measure the quality of thewater passing through it.

There is typically a transducer 11 for converting mechanical movement ofthe flow meter to electrical signals, a memory to store readings andtransmitter circuitry 12, 13 for transmitting electrical signals to aremote receiver. This transmitter can be part of a transceiver forreceiving RF signals as well as transmitting RF signals. In cases wherewater quality is sensed at the meter 10, the circuitry 11, 12 and 13would also read and act on water quality data and alarm conditions fromthe parameter sensor and transmit these to a remote receiver. Many AMRsystems are known for transmitting utility consumption data. from thedistribution end points (E) to a central location (D) for processing.Such systems can be modified to communicate and process water qualitydata as well. The zone meters (C) can also be provided with this type ofelectronic signaling equipment. The water quality data from variouslocations within the system can then be collected at the collectionstation D for further processing, to determine water quality on a systembasis.

This has been a description of the preferred embodiments, but it will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may bemade in the details of these specific embodiments. Such modificationsare intended to be encompassed by the broadest aspects of the presentinvention unless excluded by the following claims.

1. Apparatus for sensing water quality at a water metering system endpoint, the apparatus comprising: a fluid flow metering elementpositioned in a flow stream supplying at least one water utilitycustomer that converts metering signals or movements of a flow meteringelement to electrical signals representing units of consumption;communication interface circuitry for converting the electrical signalsrepresenting units of consumption to meter data signals; means forelectronically communicating the meter data signals to an external datacollection device; and a water quality sensor positioned in a same flowstream as the flow stream of the fluid flow metering element to sense aquality of the water, said sensor producing a water quality statussignal to the communication interface circuitry, wherein thecommunication interface circuitry is responsive to the water qualitystatus signal to incorporate said water quality status signal into agroup of data signals including meter data signals, wherein said meansfor electronically communicating the meter data will also communicatethe water quality status signal in a transmission to a collectionstation in a water meter data collection network, and wherein the flowstream supplies the at least one water utility customer downstream fromthe fluid flow metering element and the water quality sensor.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for communicating the meter datasignals includes a data port for communicating meter data signals fromthe meter register device to an external transmitter.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the communication interface circuitry includescircuitry for producing radio frequency meter data signals and whereinthe means for communicating the meter data signals to an external deiceincludes an antenna for communicating the radio frequency meter datasignals to an external device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thewater quality status signal is representative of at least one of achemical, biological or environmental parameter.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the apparatus is installed as part of metering systemat a site of one water utility customer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the apparatus is installed as a zone water consumption meter formeasuring water quality in a branch of a water distribution systemsupplying a plurality of water utility customers and wherein the fluidflow metering element and the water quality sensor are adapted to bepositioned in the flow stream that passes through said zone waterconsumption meter.
 7. A system comprising a plurality of apparatuses asrecited in claim 1, wherein the apparatuses are each associated with,and are adapted to electrically communicate with, respective sensors forsensing various different ones of a plurality of chemical biological, orenvironmental parameters of water quality in a water distributionsystem, said sensors generating electrical signals that can becommunicated through a wireless network to a fixed, non-mobile meterdata collection station.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein there are aplurality of different sensors for different respective biological,chemical or environmental parameters, said different sensors beingdistributed to respective distribution end points within a specifiedzone of the water metering, network and wherein said sensors generateelectrical signals that are communicated to the data collection station,to provide data on a plurality of parameters related to water qualitywithin the specified zone.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein there areno more than two biological, chemical or environmental sensorsassociated with each respective, water metering system end point. 10.The system of claim 7, wherein each water metering system end pointcomprises a meter and wherein at least one biological, chemical orenvironmental sensor that is adapted to be positioned in a same flowstream as the flow stream of a respective fluid flow metering element.11. The system of claim 7, wherein each water metering system end pointis represented by a meter and wherein the at least one sensor is locatedwithin the meter.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the apparatuses areinstalled as part of a water metering system at respective sites for aplurality of respective residential customers.
 13. The system of claim7, wherein the apparatuses are installed as zone meters for measuringwater quality in respective branches of a water distribution system,wherein said branches distribute water to respective pluralities ofresidential customers.
 14. A method for sensing water quality at a watermetering system end point, the method comprising: utilizing a meteringelement to convert movements of a fluid flow in a flow stream supplyingat least one water utility customer to electrical signals representingunits of consumption; converting the electrical signals representingunits of consumption to meter data signals; electronically communicatingthe meter data signals to an external data collection device; andsensing a quality of the water in the same flow stream as the flowstream of the fluid flow metering element prior to the flow stream beingsupplied to the at least one water utility customer, said sensorproducing a water quality status signal; and including said waterquality status signal in a group of meter data signals to be transmittedto a collection station; and electronically communicating the waterstatus signal with the meter data to u collection station in a watermeter data collection network, wherein the flow stream supplies the atleast one water utility customer downstream from the fluid flow meteringelement and the water quality sensor.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the water quality status signal is representative of at leastone of a chemical, biological or environmental parameter.
 16. The methodof claim 14, wherein the water quality status signal is sensed by awater consumption meter adapted to be installed at the site of one waterutility customer.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the water qualitystatus signal is sensed by a zone water consumption meter that isconfigured for measuring water quality in a branch of a waterdistribution system serving a plurality of water utility customers. 18.The method of claim 14, wherein respective sensors for sensing variousdifferent ones of a plurality of chemical biological, or environmentalparameters of water quality are distributed with a plurality of watermeters in a water distribution system, said sensors generatingelectrical signals through the water meter system end points and througha wireless network to a fixed, non-mobile meter data collection station.19. The method of claim 14, wherein there are a plurality of sensors fordifferent biological, chemical or environmental parameter that aredistributed to respective meter data end points within a specified zoneof the water metering network and wherein said sensors generateelectrical signals that are communicated to the data collection stationto provide data on a plurality of parameters related to water qualitywith the specified zone.